I find that I have a lot of time to think, I always did but now I have even more time.  I see people here, there it seems everywhere talking about how giving people a hand out helps no one.  That these "people" will never do better for themself if they don't have to do it.  That people on any type of welfare just want to abuse the system.  And I know there are some who do abuse the system.  There will always be people who take a good thing and abuse it.  Most drugs that are illegal were probably made with the best of intentions but then someone found a way to abuse them and hurt the good people who wanted to use them for the right reasons.  When you buy cold medicine or spray paint or whatever you now have to be over 18 because people have abused them.  Things meant for one thing but then someone who is to smart for their own good finds a way to make them into something bad.  This is life, this is free will.  This is each person having to decide which path to follow, the right one or the wrong one.  But because someone abuses cold medicine should we get rid of it altogether?  No!  So because some abuse welfare should we get rid of it altogether?  No!

I was raised Lutheran.  I went to a Lutheran grade school.  Was baptized when I was a month old.  I was confirmed when I was 14.  I have always been a member of the Lutheran church, whether here in Indiana or when I lived in California.  Until two years ago though I was not as what is the word I am looking for....  I was a lutheran but not a Lutheran?  I believe in God, always have and I have more or less tried to live my life as a Christian.  I am not perfect, never have been and never will be.  But I have never set out to deliberately hurt anyone or to go against God and everything he has taught me about living a Christian life.  It was just always there, a part of me.  But I don't think I ever really thought about it.  Not deep down in my soul thought about it.  But then David died and my life turned upside down.  How could God let this happen?  Why did we go through everything we went through just to have this happen now?  And there are times I still have those questions in my head.  But I do now believe God didn't allow David to die to punish me.  I did nothing bad enough to deserve that kind of punishment.  And God loves me even when it doesn't feel like it.  So because of everything I went through two years ago I am who I am now.  I am much closer to God now.  I am much more knowledgeable of my not just religion but my faith.  What it is and what it means to me and who I am because of it.

So when I hear people saying that others shouldn't be given handouts or that socialism is a bad thing I think but what did Jesus do?  What does Jesus believe in?  It's not giving a hand out, it's giving people a help getting a step up.  I watch GMC a lot and they have these promo's called "Uplift Someone" and it is something I truly believe in.  Something as simple as a smile or a kind word can change a persons day.  Helping someone put food on the table to get a job or pay for a sick loved one or their husbands funeral can change a person forever.  I always thought I was a decent person.  But now I try even harder.  When I am at work my main goal is to have the customer leave happy.  I want to take what can be a bad or frustrating situation and have them leave thinking that wasn't so bad.  I know someone making a return isn't going to make or break that person.  But if I can make one person leave happy who came in upset or prepared to leave unhappy then I have done my job.  Maybe by me making them happy then they will turn make someone else happy.  And this will just keep spreading.  Maybe by helping one person who has hit rock bottom pull themselves out of the hole they find themselves in they will some day be able to turn around and help someone else.  Kindness begets kindness.  Just because you have never had to ask for help doesn't mean help should not be given.  And it should be given freely and with a loving heart.  And if you are putting down people who need help, look into your heart and ask why you feel this way?  Has no one ever at any time in your life helped you in any way?  If so you are so lucky!!  I have been on the end of needing help.  More then I ever thought I would be.  And I am glad I have because I feel it has made me an even more compassionate person.  I don't look at people on welfare and see deadbeats.  I look at people on welfare who are so down on their luck and just need a hand to cling to for life support.  Who need to know that there are people in this world who care.  Who want to lend them a hand for no other reason then they just do.  Or they are lending this hand because they have been there and done that.  I want to do it because it is what Jesus would do.  I don't understand how one can say they are a Christian but are against helping people.  It just makes no sense to me and I doubt it ever will.